ST. JOSEPH –Griffon men's basketball begins this weekend as Missouri Western hosts five regional universities in the 26thAnnual Hillyard Tip-Off Classic.Six games will be played in the MWSU Fieldhouse between Friday, Nov. 10 and Sunday, Nov. 12.Visiting St. Joseph from the MIAA are Northwest Missouri State and Washburn. From the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference are Northern State, Upper Iowa and Winona State. Each day of the classic will feature three games. >Friday, Nov. 1011 a.m. – Washburn vs Northern State1 p.m. – Northwest Missouri vs Upper Iowa3 p.m. – Missouri Western vs Winona StateSunday, Nov. 1212 p.m. – Northwest Missouri vs Northern State2 p.m. – Missouri Western vs Upper Iowa4 p.m. – Winona State vs WashburnTickets are on sale now and are good for three games each day. Adult general admission tickets are $10 with visiting college students, youth general admission (age-7 through high school) and senior citizens at $5. To order tickets,click hereor call 816-271-4481.Now in its 26thyear, the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic is one of the premier Division II regional classics in the nation. Title sponsor Hillyard Inc. has had a longstanding relationship with Missouri Western and basketball. The Hillyard family and companies have supported The Basketball Hall Of Fame since its inception. N. S. Hillyard's son-in-law, Elliot C. Spratt, was the first president of The Basketball Hall Of Fame. N. S. Hillyard's grandson, R. Haskell Hillyard, carried on the Hillyard tradition of service to basketball by serving as a Hall Of Fame Trustee for many years and remains a Trustee Emeritus. Haskell Hillyard also received the John Bunn Award for his and his company's many contributions to The Basketball Hall Of Fame.

For the Hillyard family and companies' many contributions to basketball, the main lobby of The Basketball Hall Of Fame has been dedicated as a permanent exhibit to their many accomplishments.